THE WALL OF FACES

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment its glory
and beauty belong to our world
But then it flies again
And though we wish it could have stayed...
We feel lucky to have seen it.

Tan My Base was a former U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base northeast of Hue in Thua Thien Province, RVN. Established in 1967, the base was located on Vinh Loc Island at the mouth of the Perfume River, approximately 12 kilometers (7.2 miles) northeast of Hue. Tan My comprised an amphibious ship ramp, docks, and petroleum storage facilities together with a petroleum, oil, and lubricants pipeline to Hue. Beginning March 1970, base operations and facilities were handed over to U.S. Army Support Command. On October 30, 1970, a fire at Tan My fatally injured two Army Support Command personnel. SP4 Moses Placeres and PFC Sai G. Lew, members of the 544th Boat Platoon, 403rd Transportation Company, 26th General Support Group, Army Support Command Da Nang, 1st Logistical Command, sustained burns in the incident. Placeres died from his injuries, and Lew was medically evacuated to Brooke General Hospital at Fort Sam Houston, TX, with burns over 60% of his body. He died 35 days later from complications of bronchopneumonia on December 5, 1970. Both men were immigrant soldiers, Placeres from Cuba and Lew born in China. Their sacrifices mirrored an enduring history of the United States as immigrants have served in the U.S. Armed Forces since the founding of our country, fighting in every major conflict in American history. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

Dear Sp4 Moses Placeres, Thank you for your service as a Special Purpose Material Supply Specialist. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Memorial Day is next week when the nation remembers all our lost. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

On the remembrance of your 70th birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

SP4 Moses PLaceres is buried at Hillcrest Memorial Park
Bakersfield, Kern County, California, USA.